Lookout Mountain: From the Top to the Depths

Cave exploration has always been so intriguing to me. The cool, damp atmosphere; the wet, slippery walls, the sharp stalagmites and stalactites that dangle from the cave’s floors and ceilings; and the sheer fact that someone stumbled upon these underground wonders and crawled through them for days, weeks, months, itching to find more. Well, one man named Leo Lambert discovered the Lookout Mountain Cave system, and what he discovered was nothing short of a national treasure.

Waterfalls are pretty common in caves, but Ruby Falls sets the record as the tallest underground waterfall in the country. Located 1120 feet underground, beneath Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls flows 145 feet into a massive natural pool.

We have been to Tennessee multiple times, but this was our first time near the Chattanooga area, so we knew we had to visit this national wonder. Ruby Falls didn’t disappoint. The tour through the cave was both interesting and enlightening as we learned about everything from the discovery of the cave system to the uniquely-named formations that dotted the cave’s pathways. We wound our way through the dimly lit trail, eventually leading to the massive waterfall. Since the cave is naturally dark, the tour company shined multi-colored spotlights on the water, creating a beautiful light show that highlighted its magnificent beauty.

If you are in the Lookout Mountain area that straddles the Tennessee and Georgia border, I’d highly recommend adding Rock City to your agenda. It’s 100% as kid-friendly as it is adult geared. Fairytale caverns, a 180 foot swinging bridge with sweeping views of the Chattanooga valley , a roaring, 90 foot waterfall flowing off the side of a mountain, and a spot where you can glimpse seven states at once are just a few of the sights that you will see as you twist through this unique, half-mile, paved trail. So many sights are packed into this utopia that we wound through the loop twice, just to make sure that we saw everything.

After our Ruby Falls and Rock City Adventures, we decided to keep moving. Our next stop was Cloudland Canyon State Park. We arrived shortly after sunrise, which, if you aren’t an avid hiker, let me be the first to tell you that this is the ideal time to hike a trail. We beat all other hikers; therefore, we had the entire trail to ourselves. We were able to beat the heat and enjoy the many waterfalls that dotted the trails, alone.

Witnessing a waterfall in the early morning, where the sound of rushing water and chirping birds are the only audibles, is incredibly humbling. My mind becomes erased of all stressful thoughts and is then consumed by serenity and peace. Silence washes over the trail and calms my heart. Imagine you are in the middle of a yoga session. You are centered, focused, and all-consumed with your breathing and nothing else. Well, imagine that, except instead of sitting in uncomfortable positions in a stuffy studio, you are sitting on a boulder, watching water cascading over rocks and crashing into a pool below; and instead of all of your thoughts becoming erased or irrelevant, they’re just replaced by positivity and focused on the present.

After enjoying peace and quiet by the waterfall, we hiked a bit further and ended up stumbling upon a slippery slope of jagged rocks that led to a secret waterfall off the path. We carefully stepped down the stones, gripping onto trees and scooting across the ground to reach the lovely falls that completely captured my attention. I sat on a rock, staring at the beauty of not only the waterfall, but of the secret haven that we had just discovered and now enjoyed all by ourselves.

We continued to explore the park and hike its windy, wooded trails, enthralled with the plethora of waterfalls that sprinkled the paths.

Our next stop was Alabama. The border of Georgia and Alabama was less than a half hour from our current destination, so we thought we might as well stop by. Spontaneously, we chose to hike DeSoto Falls State Park. We sure weren’t disappointed! The falls were stunning. Though we didn’t stay long, it was fun to do a little exploring and sit by the falls to enjoy a snack before we made the drive back to Tennessee.

These are the perfect vacations for us. Quite a bit of planning goes into these adventures, but spontaneity is occasionally thrown into the mix. We religiously study AllTrails and scroll through photos and comments from fellow hikers, but we are giddy when we stumble upon a hike that wasn’t on our list. Some people go on vacation and don’t plan a single thing; they just get in the car and drive, and they decide their destination along the way or when they spot something interesting. Others will plan every single thing and won’t stray from the itinerary. There’s nothing wrong with either of these approaches, but personally, we find that a combo of both planning and spontaneity make for exciting adventures!

Happy hiking!